Sofa bed



Dec. 11, 1951 J RQZWENS 2,578,453

SOFA BED Filed Feb. 17, 1950 v 2 SHEETSSHEET l Dec. 11, 195] J. M.ROZWENS 2,578,453

SOFA BED Filed Feb. 17, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 A J5 ,n, I

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Patented Dec. 11, 1951 SOFA BED Joseph M. Rozwens, Chicago, Ill.,assignor to A. Brandwein & Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation ofIllinois Application February 17, 1950, Serial No. 144,653

4 Claims.

The invention relates generally to a couch or sofa bed construction, andmore particularly to novel means for connecting a seat supportingstructure to a pair of arm members.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in sofa bed constructionswherein the seat member is supported by a frame structure constructed inthe form of a box, which may be used for the storage of bedding, or thelike, the box being, in turn, supported at opposite ends by suitable armstructures. In the past, sofa beds of the type here involved, whichemploy separable arm structures, have utilized bolts, or the like, forsecuring the seat supporting box structure to the arms, the boltscarrying not only tension load, but also carrying the shear load of theweight of the box and seat structure.

The present invention has, therefore, among its objects the productionof a couch construction in which the seat loads are transmitted directlyto the arm structure, whereby shear loads on the securing bolts areeliminated to provide an assembled couch that is very durable, providingmaximum rigidity and durability.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a couchstructure which is relatively simple in construction, readily assembled,and inexpensive to manufacture.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown anddescribed will be obvious to those skilled in the art from thedisclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, andmore particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts:

Fig. l is a perspective View of an arm structure and a portion of abedding box, or the like, illustrating the details of construction;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l of a portion of the bedding box;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig.4; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 5-4 of Fig.3.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, lindicates generally an arm structure to which is secured a seatsupporting structure indicated generally by the numeral 2, the latter,when employed in a sofa bed structure which may be made up into a bed,beingeonstructed inthe form of a box providing a compartment forbedding, or the like. The drawings illustrate merely the framework ofthe arm structure and, in use, the latter would be covered with asuitable material, such as fabric, plastic, or the like.

The arm structure 1 comprises a bottom memher 3 supported by a front leg4 and rear leg 5, and extending upwardly from the bottom member at therespective ends of the latter is a front upright 0r post 6 and a rearupright or post I, the uprights being connected by one or morerelatively heavy arm members 8 having a top member or panel 9 ofrelatively light material overlying the same. The respective elementsthus far described are rigidly secured together by any suitable means,as for example, dowling and gluing, or-

the like.

Extending between the uprights 6 and I adjacentthe bottom member 3 is across member or side rail l l, the connection of the latter with theuprights being reinforced by blocks l2 and I3 rigidly secured to theiruprights and the bottom member, the cross member H and blocks beingrigidly secured together by any suitable means. Referring toFigs. 3 and4, it will be noted that the cross member I l is spaced inwardly fromthe adjacent edge I4 of the bottom member to form a ledge I5. Alsoextending between the uprights 6 and l and secured to the blocks l2 andI3 is an upper cross member or upholstery strip [5 to which the fabric,or other material, applied to the arm structure may be secured, thefabric extending over the panel 9 and down to the strip I5.

The box member 2, only one end of which is illustrated, comprisesrespective front and rear members or boards [6 and I1 connected adjacenttheir ends by respective end members or rails IS, the end rail notillustrated being constructed in the same manner as that shown in thedrawings. The box is completed by a bottom l9 extending between themembers I6, I1, and 18, all of the elements being suitably securedtogether to provide a rigid structure. Rigidly secured to the end memberH! by screws 2! and gluing, or other suitable means, is a pair ofupwardly extending blocks 22a and, 22b. The end rail i8 is provided witha bore 23 therein, and extending through the end rail and the block 22ais a bore 24, such bores being adapted to be aligned with respectivebores 25 and 26 in the cross member II when the box is in the positionillustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. When the box structure is mounted onthe arm structure, the blocks 22a and 2% are positioned with their lowerends seating upon the ledge l5, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4,with the blocks at their upper ends bearing against the cross member I5.The elements are maintained in such position by bolts 21, respectivelypositioned in the bores 23 and 25 and bores 24 and 25, and

nuts 28, thus rigidly clamping the elements to-' gether. The front andrear members l5 and I! of the box 2 preferably project beyond the endmember 58, as indicated at a and Na, whereby a neat butt joint betweenthe respective uprights 6 and l of the arm and boards 5 and I! of thebox will be formed. Obviously, when the uphol- 3 story is applied to thearm, the blocks 22a and 221) will bear against the covered strip israther than directly on the strip, as illustrated.

It will be noted that all of the weight of the box 2, the seat memberscarried thereby, etc., are directly supported by the blocks 22a and 22bseating upon the bottom member 3 of the arm structure, so that such loadis directly transmit ted from the box to the bottom member 3 and legs 4and 5, with the bolts 27? and nuts 28 merely securely holding the partsin assembled relation, as contrasted to previous structures wherein thebolts, in addition to securing the elements together, carried all theweight of the box, seat, etc., as a shear load. and 22b extending abovethe box and en aging the upper cross member i5 provide additionalrigidity in the assembled structure, and eliminate any tendency of theupper portions of the armsto rock inwardly toward the center of thecouch.

Obviously, the present construction provides a very rigid structurehaving much less tendency in use to loosen up than previous structures,wherein the connecting bolts were under shear as well as tensionstresses. structed as iilustrated will retain its rigidity, and the armswill not become wobbly.

While I have illustrated merely one arm structure and one end of the boxstructure, the opposite end of the latter and the arm not shown would beconstructed in the same manner as above described, with the exceptionthat the cross members II and i5, and blocks 13 are reversed to positionthe cross member adjacent the opposite face of the arm. It will be notedfrom the above description that I have provided a couch structure whichis very simple in construction, and extremely durable in use.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing fromthe spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. in a sofa bed construction, an arm structure including a horizontalbottom member, and front and rear uprights positioned at opposite endsof the bottom member, a cross member extending between said uprights andpositioned adjacent said bottom member, said cross memher being spacedinwardly from the inner side edge of the bottom member, a seatsupporting structure having a side member positioned adjacent the innerside edge of said arm structure, a pair of spaced blocks positioned atthe outer face of said side member and rigidly secured thereto, saidblocks having their outer faces abutting said cross member, and theirlower ends resting upon said bottom member to support the seatsupporting structure on said bottom member, and means passing throughsaid cross member and side member for rigidly securing the sametogether.

2. In a sofa bed construction, an arm structure including asubstantially horizontal bottom member, and front and rear uprightspositioned at opposite ends of the bottom member, a cross memberextending between said uprights and The portions of the blocks 22a 1 Asa result, a couch conseated upon said bottom member, said cross memberbeing spaced inwardly from the inner side edge of the bottom member, asecond cross member positioned above the first cross member and spacedtherefrom, corner blocks positioned at the junctures of said crossmembers and uprights and secured to the latter and said cross members, aseat supporting structure having a side member positioned adjacent theinner side edge of said arm structure, a pair of upwardly extendingblocks positioned at the outer face of said side member and rigidlysecured thereto, said blocks having their outer faces abutting both ofsaid cross members, and their lower ends resting upon said bottom memberto support said seat supporting structure on said bottom memher, andmeans passing through said first cross member and side member forrigidly securing the same together.

3. In a sofa bed construction, an arm structure including asubstantially horizontal bottom member, and front and rear uprightspositioned at opposite ends of the bottom member, a cross memberextending between said uprights and positioned adjacent said bottommember, said cross member being spaced inwardly from the inner side edgeof the bottom member, a seat supporting structure having a side memberpositioned adjacent the inner side edge of the bottom member of said armstructure, a pair of spaced blocks positioned at the outer face of saidside member and rigidly secured thereto, said blocks having their outerfaces abutting said cross member, and their lower ends resting upon saidbottom member to support said seat supporting structure on said bottommember, and means passing through said cross member and side member forrigidly securing the same in their relative positions.

4. In a sofa bed construction, an arm structure including a horizontalbottom member, and front and rear uprights positioned at opposite endsof the bottom member, a cross member extending between said uprights andpositioned adjacent said bottom member, said cross member being spacedinwardly from the inner side edge of the bottom member, a bedding boxhaving a bottom, and front, rear, and opposed side members, one of theside members being positioned adjacent the inner side edge of saidbottom member but spaced therefrom, with the adjacent end edges of thefront and rear members substantially abutting said bottom member, a pairof spaced blocks positioned at the outer face of said member and rigidlysecured thereto, said blocks having their outer faces extendingoutwardly beyond the ends of the front and rear members and abuttingsaid cross member, and their lower ends resting upon said bottom memberto support said seat supporting structure on said bottom member, andmeans passing through said cross member and side member for rigidlysecuring the same together.

JOSEPH lvl. ROZWENS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Kelly Dec. 5, 1899Number

